PAGCOR reiterates online cockfight betting is illegal

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) on Tuesday reminded the public that betting for cockfights streamed online are illegal as the government maintained that such gaming events are still prohibited in any community quarantine classification.

“PAGCOR is against all illegal gambling activities which is the reason why we have a very strong relationship with NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) and PNP (Philippine National Police),” PAGCOR chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo said.

“We work with both closely to apprehend the guilty parties,” Domingo said.

The PAGCOR chair reminded all gaming operators to follow the government's directive banning cockfighting or “sabong.”

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said Monday that cockfights, whether online or live, are not allowed in any community quarantine.

In July, Roque urged advocates of online cockfighting to submit a letter to the Inter-agency Task Force on COVID-19 (IATF).

With this, Domingo said that if “sabong” is still prohibited, no betting whether online or live will be allowed.

"If we get reports on any type of illegal gambling including e-sabong, we report the same to NBI and PNP," the PAGCOR chief said.

Under Presidential Decree 449, or the Cockfighting Law of 1974, “cockfighting shall be allowed only in licensed cockpits during Sundays and legal holidays and during local fiestas for not more than three days.”—AOL, GMA News